Apparatus, system, methods and network for communicating information associated with digital images

ABSTRACT

A wireless communications device (WCD) includes an image processor operable to process information associated with digital images, a storage medium such as random access memory, flash memory, minidisk drive, etc. operable to store digital information associated with digital images. The WCD also includes a wireless communications module, such as a cellular modem, operable to wirelessly communicate with a network operable to communicate with wireless devices. For example, the wireless communications module may configure the information into a formate (i.e. CDMA, TDMA, GSM, etc.) such that the information may be wirelessly communicated to a network operable to receive image/information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/483,073, filed Apr. 10, 2017, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/725,489, filed Dec. 21, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No.9,622,058, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/874,423, filed Jun. 4, 2001, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 60/208,895 filed Jun. 2, 2000, thedisclosures of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to communicating information,and more particularly, to an apparatus, system, methods and network forcommunicating information associated with digital images.

BACKGROUND

Advancements in photography have brought about a need for novel methodsfor processing digital images. The digital camera, though in itsinfancy, may nearly replace conventional imaging techniques asadvancements in digital imagery proliferate. The development of digitalphotography includes creating high quality single shot images using aCCD (Charge-Coupled Device) chip which houses thousands of “sensors”sensitive for red, green and blue light. Via interpolation, a built-inor external computer recalculates the original color of each pixel.

A large problem to overcome for camera designers is the resolution ofthe CCD. More “sensors” mean higher resolutions, but it's technicallydifficult to create CCD chips with larger surfaces (larger “negative”format) with more “sensors”. The last few years have brought abreakthrough and resolution is becoming acceptable for professional use.Modern CCD's on 6×6 cm “neg.” format are housing up to 6,000,000 pixels,enough for A4 output.

During use, light passes through the lens of a digital camera the sameway it does a regular camera. Instead of being focused on photographicfilm, the image is focused on a chip called a charge-coupled device(CCD). The top of the CCD is covered with transistors that createelectrical currents in proportion to the intensity of the light strikingthem. The transistors make up the pixels of the image. A pixel is theminimum, distinct visual piece of information that a component candisplay or capture. The pixel can be made up of only one transistor forblack and white photography or several transistors for color. The morepixels in an image, the better the resolution. The transistors create acontinuous, analog electrical signal that goes to an analog-to-digitalconverter—(ADC). The ADC is a chip that translates the varying signal toa digital format, which consists of a continuous stream of 1's and 0's.

The ADC sends the digital information to a digital signal processor(DSP)-that has been programmed specifically to create photographicimages. The DSP adjusts the contrast and detail in the image, compressesthe data that makes up the image so that it takes up less storage space,and sends the data to the camera's storage medium.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantagesthereof may be acquired by referring to the following description takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencenumbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a device for communicating informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for communicating information associatedwith digital images to a network according to one aspect of theinvention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a device operable to wirelessly communicateinformation associated with digital images according to one aspect ofthe invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for wirelessly communicating informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates—a wireless communication system operable towirelessly communicate information associated with image informationaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a method for providing an operating mode for awireless communication system according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a network for communicating information associatedwith digital images according to one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for processing communicated informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention;and

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for providing a digital image capturingdevice having programmable exposures according to one aspect of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The conceptual groundwork for the present invention involvescommunicating information associated with digital images between atleast one device and at least one network. According to one aspect ofthe invention, information may be communicated by a device operable tocommunicate information associated with digital images to a network suchas the Internet. A device may include a communications module, such as acommunications modem, operable to communicate information between thedevice and a network. In one embodiment, the device may communicate witha network location, such as a website, to communicate informationassociated with digital images. As such, a user may allow for a networklocation to process communicated information associated with digitalimages.

In a particularized form, the device may include a wirelesscommunications module or modem operable to communicate information via awireless communication network. The wireless communication network maythen communicate the information associated with digital images to adesirable network location such as a homepage, an image processingcenter, an email account, an Internet address, etc. As such, the presentinvention advantageously allows a user to wirelessly communicateinformation associated with a digital images from a device to adesirable network location.

In an exemplary form, a user may capture images using a device comprisedof a digital camera and a wireless communications modem and formatinformation associated with an image such that the images may bewirelessly communicated via a network operable to communicate with thedevice. As such, a user may process digital images and wirelesslycommunicate information associated with the digital images to a wirelessnetwork operable to receive the communicated information. Theinformation may then be communicated to a network location or addressoperable to process the information representing the digital images. Inone embodiment, the information may then be used to print or process thedigital images as conventional “photographs” if desired. In this manner,a user may have the processed images delivered to a user selectedlocation such as a home, place of business, etc. As such, a user mayefficiently capture digital images via a wireless communication networkallowing a user to capture images and receive images in a desirableformat to various locations with minimal user interaction.

FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a device for communicating informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention.An electronic device, illustrated generally at 100, includes aprocessing engine 103 operable to process information associated withdigital images, a memory 104 operable to store information associatedwith digital images and a communication port 105 operable to receive andtransmit information. Device 100 may include a communications module 106for communicating information to a communication network 107 such as aglobal communication network, the Internet, an Intranet, a wirelesscommunication network, etc. Communications module 106 may be furtheroperable to communicate information to a desktop computer or clientterminal operable to receive and transmit information. As such,communications module 106 may be configured as a series, parallel,and/or seriesparallel communication device operable to communicateinformation and may employ several different types of communicationprotocols. For example, communications module may include a wireless orwireline modem operable to transfer information between device 100 andnetwork 107. In another embodiment, communications module 106 may beremovably coupled to device 100 for periodically communicatinginformation between device 100 and a communication network, desktopcomputer, portable computer, or other electronic devices.

Communication of information may be initiated automatically upon device100 processing information associated with digital images or by a userselecting one or more keys or buttons (not expressly shown) operablyassociated with communications module 106, device 100 and/or imagesource 101. For example, device 100 may communicate information upon auser selecting a capture button (not expressly shown) associated withrecording a digital image and transfer image information viacommunications module 106 to communication network 107. As such,one-touch processing of digital images and associated information may beemployed. In a similar manner, a series of images and associatedinformation stored within memory 104 may be communicated with a singletouch of a button associated with image source 101, device 100 orcommunications module 106. In this manner, a series of images andassociated information may be processed and transferred to a desktopcomputer system, network, etc. with a single touch of a button.

During use, device 100 may receive digital image information via inputport 102 and process the information such that the information may becommunicated via communications module 106. For example, device 100 maybe coupled to an image source such as a digital camera having acommunication port operable to communicate information associated withthe digital images. One example of a communication port may include aUniversal Serial Bus (USB) port operable to serially communicateinformation via a USB. USB communication ports and USB protocols arewell known in the art. Digital information may be communicated to device100 and information may be formatted into a format operable to becommunicated using communications module 106. For example, informationassociated with digital images may be formatted, as required, into aformat operable to be communicated to a network using communicationsmodule 106 operable as a-modem such as a 56k flex modem. Processingengine 103 may format image information based on several differentprocessing characteristics and desired processes as described below.

In another embodiment, device 100 may receive information from aconventional digital camera, process information into a communicableformat, and communicate information to a network, such as the Internet.

In one embodiment, device 100 may be integrated into a digital cameraoperable to record digital images. As such, the digital camera includingdevice 100 provides an integrated system that advantageously provides adigital camera communication system operable to communicate with anetwork such as the Internet for processing digital images.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method for communicating information associatedwith digital images to a network according to one aspect of theinvention. The method may be employed within a program of instructionsembodied within a computer readable medium, a memory device, encodedlogic, or other devices or systems operable to use a portion or all ofthe method illustrated in FIG. 2.

The method begins generally at step 200 and may be well suited for usein association with electronic device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 or otherelectronic devices or systems. At step 201 information associated with adigital image is received and an associated process is determined atstep 202. For example, one or more processes may be employed forprocessing a digital image and may include sending an email, updating aweb site, updating a virtual private network, integrating content withone or more databases, dynamic generation of a website and/or web pages,updating/Integrating with network data, creating traditional prints,creating projects, or other processes operable to employ digital imageinformation. As such, deterministic processing of information may beassociated with a digital image 203 and additional information may beadded if needed at step 204. For example, a user may include a memo inassociation with a digital image, add an identifier to identify adigital image, and/or provide a recorded audio message to be provide inassociation with a digital image. Processing information operable toidentify a determined process may also be provided for identifying anassociated process.

The method then proceeds to step 205 and formats image and/or imageinformation based on a determined process associated with a digitalimage. Additional processing may include, but is not limited to,compressing an image, filtering an image, generating thumbnails,flagging an image for subsequent thumbnail generation, resizing animage, converting an image to a different format such as VGA, black andwhite, grayscale, etc. and/or updating a database associated with adigital image. The method may also encode processing information and/ordestination information associated with a digital image as a part of thedigital image thereby providing a digital image having processinformation. For example, a digital image may be encoded to includeprocess information and/or destination information within a portion of adigital image, such as a header, operable to uniquely identify a processfor processing a digital image. In this manner, digitalimage/information may be communicated to a destination and translated todetermine an associated process to employ for processing a digitalimage/information. In one embodiment, deterministic processing may beencoded within the name or title of the digital image. For example, aseries of characters may be include as a part of the image name fordetermining a process to be employed upon communicating informationassociated with a digital image to a destination.

Upon formatting an image/information, the method proceeds to step 206where the method determines if software is available for communicatinginformation. For example, a digital camera may be coupled to one or moredifferent communication modules for communicating information associatedwith digital images. As such, a client device such as a computer system,communication module, modem, etc. may not include software such as aprogram, driver, etc. operable to allow image information to becommunicated to a computer and/or network location. As such, the methodproceeds to step 207 and may provide client software operable to enablecommunication of image/information. For example, a temporary program maybe copied to a client operable to communicate image information to adestination and upon completing transferring information mayremove/delete itself from the system. In this manner, a program uniqueto an electronic device may be temporarily used with one or more systemsthereby providing a client independent platform for communicatingimage/information.

Upon determining if client software is available, at step 208, themethod determines if a network is available for communicatingimage/information. If a network is not available, the method proceeds tostep 209, and image/information may be stored locally on the device,within memory associated with a desktop computer, electronic device,etc. or transferred to other storage mediums.

Upon a network becoming available, the method proceeds to determine adestination for image/information at step 210. For example,image/information may be stored locally with a client, uploaded to adestination at a specific time, manually uploaded by a user,automatically communicated or other combinations for communicatingimage/information. In one embodiment, an image may include destinationand/or processing information as a portion of the image information. Assuch, the method may read a portion of the image (i.e. header, etc.) anddetermine one or more destinations for communicating theimages/information. For example, a network location such as awebsite/network address, may be encoded as a part of the image andaccessed to determine a destination for a image/information. In anotherembodiment, information may be provided in association with a digitalimage for identifying a destination for the digital image. For example,a file may be accessed to determine a destination for a specific imagename thereby providing a destination for the digital image. As such, afile may include assorted information for one or more digital images andmay be accessed to determine network locations and processing associatedwith each image. For example, a file may include an image name, one ormore processing destinations for the image/information, processingassociated with each image/information at a selected destination, thesource providing the image, a user I.D. a Login I.D—passwords, imageformat information, etc. operable to be used in providing deterministicprocessing of image/information, etc. A digital image may furtherinclude information internal to the image file and the method may accessthe information to determine one or more destinations.

Upon determining a destination, the method proceeds to step 211 andestablishes communication with the one or more destinations for theimage/information and, at step 212, may authenticate a device/user priorto allowing transferring of image/information. Upon authenticating adevice/user, the method proceeds to step 213 where the method may createone or more directories for storing the images if needed and to step 214where images/information are transferred based on one or more transferprotocols. The method then proceeds to step 215 and proceeds to processimages based on processing information provided in an association withan image/information, after which the method ends at step 216. Themethod of FIG. 2 may be initiated via a client, device, image capturingdevice, etc. operable to initiate processing of images/information.Additionally, portions or all of the method of FIG. 2 may be used toprocess one or more images, as a batch process, and/or may beautomatically employed within an electronic device, image capturingdevice, desktop computer, client, network, etc. operable to use themethod of FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 illustrates a device operable to wirelessly communicateinformation associated with digital, images according to one aspect ofthe invention. A wireless communications device (WCD), illustratedgenerally at 300, includes an image input module 302 operable to provideinformation associated with digital images, a memory device 307 such asrandom access memory, flash memory, minidisk drive, etc. operable tostore information associated with digital images and an associatedmemory controller 306. WCD 300 may further include an audio input module301 operable to receive an audio signal or file. A user interface module304 is provided for enabling user interaction with WCD 300 and a displaymodule 305 may be used to display images/information to a user. WCD 300also includes a communications module 308 operable to communicate withone or more networks such as a wireless/wireline network. For example,communications module 308 may be operable to communicate information viaa format (i.e. CDMA, T.DMA, GSM, etc.) such that: the information may bewirelessly communicated to a network operable to receive the informationor via conventional TCP/IP for wireline communication WCD 300 includes aprocessing engine 303 operable to provide deterministic processinginformation for images and associated information. WCD 300 may alsoinclude one or more processors operable to process image information.For example, WCD 300 may include an image processor (not expresslyshown) operable to record digital and a communication processor operableto communicate image information and associated process information. Theprocessors may be integrated as a single chip or as a “system-on-a-chip”for communicating image information having associated processinformation.

In one embodiment, communications module 308 for the digital camera mayinclude a code division multiple access and advanced mobile phone system(CDMA/PCS/AMPS) cellular technology for wirelessly communicated digitalinformation. Qualcomm's Mobile Station Modem (MSM™) chipset and systemsoftware may include a MSM3300 single-chip baseband processor modem thatinterfaces directly with the IFR3300™, RFR3100™ and RFT3100″* chips, andthe PM1000™ power management chip. The MSM3300 chipset and systemsoftware may include advanced technologies such as global positionlocation and Bluetooth, as well as multimedia features such as Qtunes™MP3 player software and Compact Media'Extension (CMX™) MIDI basedmultimedia software. The MSM3300 device integrates both digital andanalog functions on a single chip. The low-power, low-cost MSM3300includes ari.ARMPTDMI′1** RISC microprocessor, and Qualcomm's powerfulQDSP2000™ digital signal processor core.

The MSM3300 and associated chipset includes a MSM3300 modem, a RFT3100analog-baseband-to-RF upconverter, a IFR3300 IF-to-basebanddownconverter, a RFR3100 RF-to-IF downconverter and a PM1000 powermanagement ASIC. During use, the MSM3300 performs baseband digitalsignal processing and executes the subscriber unit system software andserves as the central interface device in the subscriber unit,connecting RF and baseband circuits as well as memory and user interfacefeatures. The MSM3300 device also includes complete digital modulationand demodulation systems for both CDMA and AMPS cellular standards asspecified in IS-95A and IS-95B. Processing engine 303 may include anembedded microprocessor within the MSM3300 device.

WCD 300 may further include global positioning capabilities forproviding location information of WCD 300—One such technology mayinclude Qualcomm's gpsOne™ Technology which may be associated with theMSM3300 Chipset. The gpsOne position location technology merges GlobalPositioning System (GPS) satellite and network information* WCD 300utilizing a GPS module such as gpsOne collects measurements from a GPSconstellation and a cellular/PCS network and sends the information tothe Position Determination Entity which optimizes the position locationcalculation based on existing information.

WCD 300 may also include a Bluetooth wireless communication module.Bluetooth is a Global Specification for Wireless Connectivity and allowsreplacement of various cables that connect one device to another using auniversal short-range radio link. For example, Bluetooth radiotechnology built into both a <t cellular telephone and a laptop wouldreplace the cumbersome cable used today to connect a laptop to acellular telephone. Printers, PDAs, desktops, fax machines, keyboards,joysticks and virtually any other digital device can be part of theBluetooth system. In addition to untethering devices by replacing thecables, Bluetooth radio technology provides a universal bridge toexisting data networks, a peripheral interface, and a mechanism to formsmall, private ad hoc groupings of connected devices away from fixednetwork infrastructures. The Bluetooth air interface is afrequency-hopping Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying (GFSK) modulation inthe unlicensed 2.4 GHz ISM band. The modulation rate is IMbps, and itsarchitecture offers a low-cost, simple radio solution. The Bluetoothbaseband functionality may be incorporated as a part of WCD 300 and mayalso be operable to facilitate dial-up networking via an externalcommunications module (not expressly shown) such as a wireless huboperable to communicated with a global network such as the Internet.

Communication module 308 may also include Universal Serial Bus (USB) forfaster data transfers between WCD 300 and a device or network.Communication module 308 may also provide both an Internet Protocol (IP)stack support and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) support operableto provide network independent Internet connectivity.

WCD 300 may also include Digital CMOS Image (DCI) sensor (not expresslyshown) for image capture and a Color Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) driverto allow viewing of both still and moving images in full color.

During use, WCD 300 may be operable as a digital camera and may recordimages in a digital format process images using processing engine 303for providing process information and communicating images/informationusing one or more networks. As such, a user may utilize WCD 300 withouthaving to connect WCD 300 to a landline or hard wire operable tocommunicate with a network such as the Internet. Through providing WCD300 comprised of a digital camera, a user may digitally record imagesand wirelessly communicate digital images advantageously reducingprocessing time while increasing efficiency and flexibility forprocessing digital images.

In one embodiment, WCD 300 may be operable as a device similar to adisposable camera. For example, a user may purchase WCD 300 comprised ofa digital camera and having a predetermined number of digital exposures.A user may then use WCD 300 (e.g. record digital images) and wirelesslycommunicate information associated with digital images to a networkoperable to receive image information. A user may then use WCD 300 untilall of the available exposures have been used in a similar manner toutilizing all available exposures within a disposable camera. Upon usingall of the available exposures, a user may then contact a vendor (i.e.phone, Internet, etc.) and request and/or purchase additional exposuresfor WCD 300. The vendor may then configure WCD 300 for a desirablenumber of exposures. For example, the vendor may wirelessly communicatewith WCD 300 and reconfigure/reprogram WCD 300 for additional exposures.In this manner, a user may purchase various amounts of digital exposuresas needed without having to return WCD 300 to a vendor or purchase anadditional WCD 300. In another embodiment, a user may return WCD 300 tothe vendor or a representative and have the vendor reconfigure WCD 300for additional exposures.

In another embodiment, exposures may be provided or accessed via aserver or network location. For example, a processing center (notexpressly shown) may be operable to determine the number of exposuresavailable for WCD 300. As such, the processing center may determine theavailability of exposures for WCD 300 and enable communication basedupon the number of available exposures. For example, the processingcenter may allow wireless communication of from WCD 300 if a user hasprepaid or provided for access. Upon the number of exposure being used,wireless communication may be terminated until the user “buys”additional access or exposures.

In another embodiment, WCD 300 may allow a user to wirelesslycommunicate digital information to a network for an access fee. In asimilar manner to conventional cellular phones or long distancecarriers, a user may utilize WCD 300 via a “pay-as-yougo” contract planallowing a user to pay a monthly fee, or a fee for the number of images(i.e. size of files communicated, amount of time, etc.) communicated byWCD 300 to communications network 310.

In another embodiment, WCD 300 may be operable to be coupled to acommunications port of a conventional portable electronic device such asa digital camera or digital video recorder. As such, WCD 300 may receiveinformation communicated from the digital camera or digital videorecorder and wirelessly communicate information to communication network310 operable to communicate wireless information. For example, WCD 300may be coupled to a digital video recorder via a communications port.The WCD may then receive information from the digital video recorder andprocess information representing the recorded digital video imagery intoa format that may be wirelessly communicated. Upon formatting theinformation, WCD 300 may communicate information to a network operableto receive the wirelessly communicated information.

For example, a user may want to wirelessly communicate streaming videoor a video file associated with a wedding. As such, a user may recordvideo and audio and wirelessly communicate information to a networkoperable to receive wirelessly communicate information representing adigital recording of the wedding. Information may then be processed suchthat a user may access the information. For example, information may bewirelessly communicated to a network and processed into a format suchthat a user may access a network location operable to communicateinformation associated with the wedding. In this manner, an individualthat may not have been able to attend a wedding may receive thewirelessly communicated representing the wedding at a network locationusing a device operable to receive the information representing thewedding. In one embodiment, a website may provide a user access to thewirelessly communicated information. As such, the website may provideaccess to the event in a “virtual” manner without the user having to bephysically present at the wedding. Therefore, a user may purchase WCD300 as a retrofit for a digital recorder. However, in other embodiments,WCD 300 may comprise a digital video recorder.

FIG. 4 illustrates a method for wirelessly communicating informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention.The method may be employed within a program of instructions embodiedwithin a computer readable medium, a memory device, encoded logic, orother devices or systems operable to use a portion or all of the methodillustrated in FIG. 4.

The method begins generally at step 400. At step 401 informationassociated with a digital image is received and an associated process isdetermined at step 402. For example, one or more processes may beemployed for processing a digital image and may include sending anemail, updating a website, updating a virtual private network,integrating with content or one or more databases, dynamic generation ofa web site and/or web pages, updating/Integrating with network data,creating traditional prints, creating projects, or other processesoperable to employ digital image information. As such, deterministicprocessing of information may be associated with a digital image andadditional information may be added if needed at step 403. For example,a user may include a memo in association with a digital image, add anidentifier to identify a digital image, and/or provide a recorded audiomessage to be provide in association with a digital image. Processinginformation operable to identify a determined process may also beprovided for identifying an associated process.

The method then proceeds to step 404 and formats image and/or imageinformation based on a determined process associated with a digitalimage. Additional processing may include, but is not limited to,compressing an image, filtering an image, generating thumbnails,flagging an image for subsequent thumbnail generation, resizing animage, converting an image to a different format such as VGA, black andwhite, grayscale, etc. and/or updating a database associated with adigital image. The method may also encode processing information and/ordestination information associated with a digital image as a part of thedigital image thereby providing a digital image having processinformation. For example, a digital image may be encoded to includeprocess information and/or destination information within a portion of adigital image, such as a header, operable to uniquely identify a processfor processing a digital image. In this manner, digitalimage/information may be communicated to a destination and translated todetermine an associated process to employ for processing a digitalimage. In one embodiment, deterministic processing may be encoded withinthe name or title of the digital image. For example, a series ofcharacters may be include as a part of the image name for determining aprocess to be employed upon communicating information associated with adigital image to one or more destinations.

The method then proceeds to step 405 and determines a priority based onan associated process. For example, image information that must becommunicated without delay would include a high priority and imageinformation that is not time sensitive would include a lower priority.Priority may be used to determine if a wireless network should be usedto communicate an image/information or if a wireline network should beused. Additionally, priority for communicating an image may be alteredbased on the amount of storage capacity available for a device. Forexample, as capacity decreases a priority for an image may be alteredthereby queuing an image for wireless communication. Other prioritiesmay also be used to establish a type of communication to use forcommunicating image information. For example, an image may include a lowpriority and as such would not need to be communicated in whole via awireless network. As such, an image may be segmented and at periodictimes into portions of an image having associated identifying propertiesand may be wirelessly communicated to a destination. As such, abalancing out of network loading may be maintained for communicatingvoluminous image information.

Upon determining a priority, the method proceeds to step 406 where themethod determines what network to use for communicating imageinformation. For example, an image/information may be selected forwireless communication while one or more other images may not beselected for wireless communicating. As such, an image/information maybe communicated to a network via an appropriate communication network.Upon determining which network to use, the method proceeds to step 407and determines if a network is available. If the network is notavailable the method proceeds to step 408 and stores image/informationwithin memory until a network is available. If the network is available,the method proceeds to step 409 and encodes the image/information forcommunication and communicates the image/information at step 410. Uponcommunicating the image/information, the method proceeds to step 411 andtranslates the communicated image information and to step 412 toinitiate a process associated with the communicated image/information.The method then proceeds to step 413 where the method ends.

In one embodiment, the method may process the information such thatconventional photographs are provided using the communicatedimage/information. Additionally, the photographs may be forwarded to aphysical location such as the user's home address, business address,designated address, etc. In another embodiment, the information may bestored at a network location for future processing.

In another embodiment, the images/information may be forwarded as anemail to an email address operable to receive the information. Inanother embodiment, the information may be stored at a network locationoperable to allow a user to select which digital images should beprocessed. As such, a user may communicate various numbers of photos toa network location and process the photos as desired.

In one embodiment, a pull (or push) technology associated with wirelesscommunication may be employed for communicating image/information. Pulltechnology is a type of wireless communication that does not requirepersistent two-way wireless communication for communicating information.For example, a wireless device may establish a one-way communicationthereby reducing the amount of overhead associated with establishing atwo-way communication protocol.

In one embodiment, the method may be used to establish communicationbetween a network and a device. For example, communication may beinitiated by a device by applying power to the device. As such, atransceiver associated with the device may communication with thenetwork and establish a communication link.

FIG. 5 illustrates a wireless communication system operable towirelessly communicate information associated with image informationaccording to one embodiment of the invention. Wireless communicationsystem (WCS) 500 includes a display 501 such as an active matrix, LCD,touch screen and the like operable to display information, input devicesuch as a pointing device 509, selection button 510 and browser buttonssuch as home button 511, back button 512, favorite button 514 andforward button 513. WCS 500 further includes several other functionbutton (F1-F6) 503, 504, 505, 506, 507, 508 operable to be using inassociation with WCS 500. For example, one or more buttons 503, 504,505, 506, 507, 508 may be programmed/re-programmed for functions such asmagnification of a captured image, communication functions forinitiating communication of image/information, email function foremailing image information, and other functions that may be used inassociation with processing, manipulating, etc. images/information.

WCS 500 further includes a communications module operable as a wirelesscommunications module (not expressly shown) that may wirelesslycommunicate information to a network operable to communicate with WCS500. For example, a communications module may be operable to wirelesslycommunicate information using one or more types of wirelesscommunication.

A user may wirelessly communicate with a network such as the Internetusing WCS 500 operable to receive and communicate wireless informationproviding access to the Internet. Such communications may include usinga WAP operable to wirelessly communicate information associated with theInternet. A browser may be provided with WCS 500 allowing a user maynavigate using forward button 513, back button 512, home button 511,favorite button 514, etc. operable to allow a user to navigate theInternet.

WCS 500 may further include software and hardware operable to allow auser to browse the Internet and access selective information in adesirable manner. For example, a user may access a website operable toreceive information representing digital images. A user may preview animage and communicate a desired image to a website operable to receiveinformation representing the recorded images. In this manner, a user maycommunicate information (i.e. print photos, request photo processing,email information, etc.) without having to access the Internet via acomputer or hard-line, landline, etc.

In one embodiment, WCS 500 may be programmed or re-programmed foradditional/updated functionality. For example, a new service orinformation associated with a current or existing service, may bewirelessly communicated to WCS 500 and stored within memory associatedwith WCS 500. In this manner, WCS 500 may be remotely reprogrammedexpanding/updating the functionality of WCS 500 thereby enabling WCS 500to be configured and/or re-configured as needed.

In one embodiment, a service request may be communicated to a networkfor processing via a land-line, wire-line, etc. using a communicationmodule operably associated with WCS 500. For example, wireless servicemay not be available for communicating with a network. As such, WCS 500may be operable to communicate in a client-server based mode forrequesting, processing, uploading image information, accessing theInternet, etc.

In one embodiment, a user may capture an image and preview an imageusing display 501. An image may be stored within memory associated withWCS 500 and displayed upon a user selecting a preview button 502. A usermay record a plurality of images and preview the images by selecting apreview button 502. As such, a user may use the browser buttons 511-514to navigate recorded images in a similar manner to navigating a networksuch as the Internet. For example, a user may select forward button 513or back button 512 to navigate images. In one embodiment, a user mayreturn to a first image by selecting home button 511. A user may alsoselect favorite button 514 to “mark” an image to be saved or wirelesslycommunicated. In this manner, a user may wirelessly communicate selectedimages, to desirable network locations. Through wirelessly communicatinginformation, access can “free up” memory within WCS 500.

In another embodiment, WCS 500 may wirelessly communicate informationassociated with a digital image to an email address. For example, a usermay record a digital image and wirelessly communicate informationcomprised of the digital image to one or more email addresses. Forexample, WCS 500 may be operable to access a mail list comprised of oneor more email addresses. As such, a user may select an email functionand wirelessly communicate information associated with the digital imageto a network operable to receive the wirelessly communicatedinformation. The email may then be communicated to a desirable emailaddress selected by the WCS user. For example, a user may want to emaila photo of the Grand Canyon to his or her parents while the user is onvacation. The user, lacking assess to a land-line while at the GrandCanyon, can email a digitally recorded image to a desirable emailaddress for his or her parents by selecting WCS's 500 email functionoperable to send an email to a desirable email address. In this manner,a user can send a “digital postcard” to one or more email addresses.

In another embodiment, a user may input an email address utilizing aninput device such as a graphical keyboard, a digital notepad, and/orscribe 515 similar to a Palm device, or other input devices configurableto allow a user to input a desirable email address. As such, a user mayinput an email address and/or a message. A user may then use WCS 500compose and communicate an email comprised of the digital photograph toan email address. Display 501 may be operable as a touch screen allowinga user to select function, such as soft keys, access and input/provideinformation, etc. in a similar manner to a Palm device.

In another embodiment, a user may access a list of email addressesstored accessible by WCS 500. In another embodiment, a user may accessan Internet email account for emailing digital images. Other embodimentsmay include providing a user access to address list via the Internet. Assuch, a user may access email addresses in a plurality of ways forwirelessly communicating information to an email address.

In another embodiment, WCS 500 may include an audio input port (notexpressly shown) operable to receive an audio input. User may use WCS500 to record a digital audio file allowing a user to wirelesslycommunicate an audio file in association with digital image information.As such, a user may record a digital image using WCS 500 and furtherrecord an audio file to be associated with the captured image. A usermay then wirelessly communicate the information to a network. Forexample, a user may email a digital photo and provide an audio fileassociated with the digital photo to a selected email account. Forexample, a user may want to record an audio message such as “Hello fromthe Grand Canyon” and provide a digital photo of the Grand Canyon inassociation with the recorded message. In this manner, a user maywirelessly communicate an email having a digital image and an audio fileutilizing WCS 500.

In another embodiment, WCS 500 may allow a user to select the type ofimage, such as black and white, color, etc., the resolution of theimage, the magnification of the image, the F stop of the device, etc.and other film attributes commonly know in the art. As such, WCS 500advantageously allows a user to select make capture a desirable digitalimage representations and wirelessly communicate images to a network.For example, a user may want to record a black and white image inaddition to a color image. As such, the present invention allows a userto select unique qualities of the image prior to communicating theimages/information to a network.

In another embodiment, WCS 500 may be operable as a video imagerecorder, such as a digital video recorder, operable to wirelesslycommunicate video information to a network. For example, a user may wantto record a baseball game and wirelessly communicate the baseball game,comprised of video information, and in one embodiment, associated audioinformation, to a network.

In one embodiment, WCS 500 includes memory operable to store digitalimages. The memory may be operable as a removable storage mediumassociated with storing information. As such, information may be storedlocally within WCS 500. The digital information may then be removablememory device associated with the device such that a user may swapmemory storage devices. As such, several different memory devices may beused to store desirable information and wirelessly communicate desirableinformation to a network using WCS 500.

FIG. 6 illustrate a method for providing an operating mode for awireless communication system according to one aspect of the invention.The method may be employed within a program of instructions embodiedwithin a computer readable medium, a memory device, encoded logic, orother devices or systems operable to use a portion or all of the methodillustrated in FIG. 6.

The method begins generally at step 600 and may be used in associationwith wireless communication system (WCS) 500 illustrated in FIG. 5 orwith other systems or devices operable to use the method of FIG. 6. Atstep 601 the method determines an operating mode requested for a WCS.For example, a user may select a browsing mode, an image capturing mode,a web authoring mode, a custom or specific application, or otherprograms/applications that may be employed by WCS operable tocommunicate information via a wireless network. Upon determining anoperating mode, the method proceeds to step 602 and deploys the selectedoperating mode. For example, a user may want to launch a browser topreview images, access the Internet, access an Intranet, etc. The methodmay also employ an image capturing mode operable to allow a user torecord images and associate processing with a captured image. A user mayalso select a web authoring mode allowing a user a multi-source editingplatform. For example, a user may author a webpage using one or moredigital images associated with a WCS. As such, a user may provides‘tags’ to image information and communicate authored website/content toa network location operable to receive the content. In this manner, auser may integrate image content with a website from a remote locationwithout having to manually upload images or alter a path or destinationduring upload. In this manner, deterministic processing of imageinformation may automatically provide processing information for animage/information communicated by a wireless communication system.

In another embodiment, a user may select a operating mode associatedwith a custom application or program accessible by a wirelesscommunication system. The program may be local to the wirelesscommunication system or the application may be used in combination witha server wirelessly coupled to the wireless communication system. Forexample, portions of an application may be resident to the wirelesscommunication system while other portions of an application may beresident to a server. In this manner, processing and wirelesscommunication of information may be reduced at the wirelesscommunication system.

One example of a custom application may be directed towards theinsurance industry for assisting with claims processing. A claimsadjuster may be in the field previewing a property that received damageduring a storm. As such, a claims adjuster may access a companiesIntranet and/or database for entering/modifying a claim. Additionally,the claims adjuster may record several images and communicate the imagesin association with the claim to document the claim. In this manner, thewireless communication system using the custom application may serve asan extension to the insurance companies Intranet for processing claims.

In another embodiment, a user may select an Infoimaging applicationoperable to provide image information in addition to other informationfor processing. For example, a user may select an application operableto create a project to be used in association with a image/information.For example, a project may include periodically inspecting aconstruction site for constructing a building and may include processingimages and associated information (i.e. date, time, notes, etc.). Assuch, periodic inspection of a building may be necessary duringdifferent stages of a project. As such, a project may be updated/createdusing a custom application.

In another embodiment, an Infoimaging application may be operable toprovide listing images and/or information for real estate. For example,a real estate professional may author a webpage or update listinginformation for a multiple listing service by providing images and/orinformation. In another embodiment, a real estate professional may allowa client to capture images and take notes. As such, information may beassociated with a home tour and upon the information and/or images beingcommunicated to a network, a website may be dynamicallygenerated/updated for the client thereby providing a list of home tours.

Upon deploying an operating mode the method proceeds to step 604 andformats/processes images/information if needed. The method then proceedsto step 601 and repeats.

FIG. 7 illustrates a network for communicating information associatedwith digital images according to one aspect of the invention. A network,illustrated generally at 700, may be operable to communicate informationassociated with digital images and includes receiving an input from anetwork communication device (NCD) 701 operable to communicateinformation associated with digital images. For example, NCD 701 maycommunicate with the network via a communications module coupled to adevice operable to communicate information associated with digitalimages. In this manner, NCD 701 may be used in associated with a networkfor communicating digital image information and information accordingly.

In one embodiment, NCD 701 may communicate with global communicationnetwork 704 such as the Internet or an Intranet via a landline operableto communicate information between a device and a network. In thismanner, a user may couple NCD 701 to a network such as the Internet andcommunicate images/information to a network location such as a websiteoperable to receive information associated with digital images andprocess images and information as needed.

In another embodiment, NCD 701 may communicate with wirelesscommunications network 702 operable to communicate informationassociated with digital images. For example, wireless communicationsnetwork 702 may include a digital network operable to communicatedigital information associated with the images/information.Additionally, wireless communication network 702 may be operable tocommunicate with a global communications network such as the Internet704 via first server 703. As such, NCD 701 operable to wirelesslycommunicate information may communicate with one or more networks 702,704. Information may then be communicated to a network locationassociated with the global communication network 704 such as a secondserver 705 or website operable to receive and process informationassociated with digital images. For example, the website may convert theinformation into a format operable to provide conventional photographsrepresenting digital images. In another embodiment, the information maybe forwarded as an email to an email address, stored at a networklocation for future access by one or more users, etc.

In one embodiment, NCD 701 may be operable similar to a disposablecamera having a predetermined number of exposures. NCD 701 may then beused to wirelessly communicate with wireless communication network 702and/or global communication network 704 and a user may digitally recordan image and communicate information associated with the image to anetwork location. For example, NCD 701 may include a device identifierfor identifying NCD 701 when communicating with wireless communicationnetwork 702. NCD 701 may then be recognized by wireless communicationnetwork 702 and then communicate information. Wireless communicationnetwork 702, having identified NCD 701, may then communicate informationto a processing center. Upon a user using all of the exposures, the usermay purchase additional exposures and a wireless signal may becommunicated to NCD 701 to reprogram NCD 701 for additional exposures.In this manner, a user may purchase desirable amounts of exposureswithout having to purchase a new camera or NCD 701.

In one embodiment, the network may be operable to dynamically generate awebsite in response to receiving wirelessly communicated informationassociated with digital images from NCD 701. For example, a website mayinclude one or more webpages uniquely generated for the user of NCD 701and may be operable to use Java based objects for improved navigation,appearance, and functionality of the website and associated simulations.Java is an object oriented language which may be executed by a Javainterpreter and run on most computers and operating systems such asUNIX, Macintosh OS, and Windows. Additionally, network 700 may beoperable to utilize many different types of markup languages foraccessing and providing information associated with digital imageinformation. Markup languages may include, for example, hyper textmark-up language (HTML), extensible mark-up language (XML), wirelessmark-up language (WML), etc. and various communication protocols such asInternet Protocol (IP), Transmission Control Protocol (TCP),Transmission Control/Internet Protocol (TC/IP), Wireless ApplicationProtocol (WAP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Picture Transfer Protocol(PTP), Image Transfer Protocol (ITP), etc. for communicating informationassociated with digital images. For example, network 700 may be operableto use TCP/IP and/or WAP communication in which a client terminal, suchas wireless device, requests service (such as sending a Web page) byanother computer, such as a server coupled via the network. In thismanner, information associated with digital images may be communicatedusing TC/IP communication and/or WAP.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for processing communicated informationassociated with digital images according to one aspect of the invention.The method may be employed within a program of instructions embodiedwithin a computer readable medium, a memory device, encoded logic, orother devices or systems operable to use a portion or all of the methodillustrated in FIG. 8.

The method begins generally at step 800. At step 801 a network location,such as a website, processing center, Intranet, wireless communicationserver, etc., receives a request to process image/information. Forexample, the image and/or associated image information may becommunicated to a processing center operable to receive and processimages/information. Upon receiving a request to process information, themethod proceeds to step 802 and authenticates the requesting source. Forexample, a device/client may request processing using a semi-private ofprivate network. As such, a device I.D., User I.D., Login I.D.,password, etc. may be provided and authenticated to validate a request.Upon validating a request information is received at step 803 from therequesting source. In one embodiment, one or more directories may becreated for storing the images/information. Upon receiving theimages/information, the method proceeds to step 804 and determines ifthe images/information need to be translated. For example, the imagesmay be communicated using a specific protocol and/or format and mayrequire translating to a format operable to be used by a processingcenter. For example, an image may be communicated to a network locationvia a wireless network. The image may be communicated in segments and assuch may require assembly prior to processing. For example, a 100Kilobyte image may be communicated in fifty segments with each segmentrepresenting a specific portion of an image file. As such, and image maybe assembled into a format using each of the fifty segments.

Upon translating images/information if needed, the method proceeds tostep 805 and communicates a confirmation or request for a segment thatmay not have been received or may have been corrupted duringcommunication. For example, segment thirty-seven of fifty may not havebeen received or may have become corrupted during communication. Assuch, the method may send a request to an originating device for thespecific segment needed for the image. In this manner, a segment may beretrieved when needed.

In one embodiment, a network may communicate image/information in adiscrete packet including a segment of image/information. Some wirelesscommunication systems may include a transfer protocol for an entireimage. However, other wireless networks may not have such a protocol. Assuch segmenting image/information using a wireless communication systemand translating the segmented information into an image file may be wellsuited for such networks. For example, a digital paging network may beoperable to communicate binary information between an originating sourceand a destination. As such, the paging network may be configured tocommunicate two kilobytes of information per transmission. A digitalimage/information may be segmented by a wireless communication systemand communicated to a destination/processing center and reassembled toprovide the image/information into its original format. In oneembodiment, a wireless communication system may include several pagingtransceivers operable to communicate several segments of information. Assuch, an increase in bandwidth may be realized by the wirelesscommunication system for communicating images/information employingplural transceivers.

Upon confirming and/or requesting image/information the method proceedsto step 806 and determines the process requested. For example, theprocessing information may be included within the image file or providedin association with an image. As such, the method accesses imageinformation and proceeds to step 807 and processes an image based on aprocess selected via a wireless communication module. For example,processing may include converting a digital image into a traditionalprints and delivering the traditional prints to a physical location. Assuch, the method may queue images/information until a predeterminednumber of images are received. For example, a user may have purchasedfifty photos. As such, upon all fifty photos being communicated to theprocessing center, the fifty photos may be queued for traditionalprocessing and delivered accordingly. In this manner, delivery andprocessing information (i.e. street address, size prints, color, type,custom, etc.) may be provided in association with or within the imageinformation and extracted prior to converting the images intotraditional prints. As such, image/information may include severaldifferent types of information for processing at a processing center.Upon processing the images/information, the method proceeds to step 808where the method ends. In this manner, images/information havingdeterministic processing information may be communicated to one or moredestinations.

One application for using the method of FIG. 8 may include dynamicallygenerating websites and/or associated web pages using deterministicprocessing information included within an image file or in associationwith an image. For example, a real estate professional may use a digitalcamera operable to capture image information. One such device mayinclude a personal digital assistant, such as a Palm device, havingimage capturing capabilities. A program resident to a Palm may allowreal estate professional to enter a listing number identifying aproperty being toured. The agent may then allow a client to takephotographs and associate notes, memos, audio files, data, etc. withdigital images while touring a home. In this manner, a client may tourseveral homes throughout the day and capture images/information for eachhome. Images/information may then be processed/formatted to includedeterministic processing data for dynamically generating home tours. Theimages/information for each client may then be communicated via awireless or wireline network and home tours may be dynamically generatedfor each client within a virtual private network for viewing. A processcenter may combine the images/information with listing data to create apersonalized website for each client. In this manner, an agent maygenerate web based home tours for their clients using images/informationhaving deterministic processing information.

Other embodiments of the method of FIG. 8 may be realized in accordancewith the present invention. For example, processing may includedetermining the number of exposures remaining in a wirelesscommunications device. As such, the method may communicate a signal tothe device in response to determining the number of exposures remainingIn another embodiment, processing may include communicating with awireless communication device to provide additional exposures. Forexample, a user may access a website, contact a vendor, etc. andpurchase additional exposures. As such, a processing center operable tocommunicate with the device may provide additional exposures. Forexample, the processing center may provide information to a wirelessnetwork operable to communicate with a wireless device. The informationmay include information that may be downloaded or received by thewireless device for reconfiguring the device for additional exposures.Other embodiments of communicating with the wireless device from theprocessing center may include transmitting other types of information tothe device. Such information may include advertising, emails, etc.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for providing a digital image capturingdevice having programmable exposures according to one aspect of theinvention. The method may be employed within a program of instructionsembodied within a computer readable medium, a memory device, encodedlogic, or other devices or systems operable to use a portion or all ofthe method illustrated in FIG. 9.

The method begins generally at step 900. At step 901 the methoddetermines the number of exposures available for a wirelesscommunication device operable as a digital camera. For example, a usermay have paid for fifty exposures and have used fifteen of the exposuresleaving a total of thirty-five remaining. As such the method displaysthe number of exposures at step 902 and determines the number ofexposures at step 903. If the number of exposures is equal to zero, themethod proceeds to step 912 and notifies a user that no exposures areavailable. The method then proceeds to step 913 where a user may requestadditional exposures and to step 914 where the camera is re-programmedfor a new number of exposures. For example, a user may request andpurchase exposures via Internet, wireless network using the camera,conventional wireline, telephone service, etc. Upon purchasing theexposures, a signal may be communicated the camera reprogramming thecamera for additional exposures. Upon determining the number of exposuredoes not equal zero, the method proceeds to step 904 where the networkprocessing is enabled and to step 905 where a user may capture an image.Upon a user capturing an image, the method proceeds to step 906 wherethe method determines a processing to be associated with the image andto step 907 where a counter is decreased indicating that an exposure hasbeen used. The method then proceeds to step 908 where theimage/information is communicated to a destination for processing. Forexample, a user may want to create an online photo album, generatetraditional prints to be processed, email an image/information, or otherprocesses operable to be used in association with digital images. Themethod then proceeds to step 909, where the method ends.

In one embodiment, information may be wirelessly communicated having acertain level of encryption thereby allowing a user to securelycommunicate image information and/or request for additional photos,credit card information, confidential information, etc. Encryption isthe conversion of data into a form, called a cipher, that cannot beeasily understood by unauthorized people. Decryption is the process ofconverting encrypted data back into its original form, so it can beunderstood. Simple ciphers include the substitution of letters fornumbers, the rotation of letters in the alphabet, and the “scrambling”of voice signals by inverting the sideband frequencies. More complexciphers work according to sophisticated computer algorithms thatrearrange the data bits in digital signals.

In order to easily recover the contents of an encrypted signal, thecorrect decryption key is required. The key is an algorithm that“undoes” the work of the encryption algorithm. Alternatively, a computercan be used in an attempt to “break” the cipher. The more complex theencryption algorithm, the more difficult it becomes to eavesdrop on thecommunications without access to the key.

Encryption/decryption is especially important in wirelesscommunications. This is because wireless circuits are easier to “tap”than their hard-wired counterparts. Nevertheless, encryption/decryptionis a good idea when carrying out any kind of sensitive transaction, suchas a credit-card purchase online, or the discussion of a company secretbetween different departments in the organization.

Wireless communication of information associated with digital images maybe provided in a plurality of ways. Some examples of wirelesscommunication systems and protocols operable to be used with the presentinvention are provided below and may include, but are not limited to,CDMA, GSM, TDMA, PCS, UMTS, and GPS.

Wireless refers to a communications, monitoring, or control systems inwhich electromagnetic or acoustic waves carry a signal throughatmospheric space rather than along a wire. In most wireless systems,radio-frequency (RF) or infrared (IR) waves are used. CDMA(code-division multiple access)

CDMA, one of the three wireless telephone transmission technologies,takes an entirely different approach from GSM and the similar TDMA.CDMA, after digitizing data, spreads it out over the entire bandwidth ithas available. Multiple calls are overlaid over each other on thechannel, with each assigned a unique sequence code. The digital wirelesspersonal communication service (PCS) is expected to use CDMA widely inthe United States.

GSM (Global System for Mobile communication) GSM (Global System forMobile communication) is a digital mobile telephone system that iswidely used in Europe and other parts of the world. GSM uses a variationof time division multiple access (TDMA) and is the most widely used ofthe three digital wireless telephone technologies (TDMA, GSM, and CDMA).GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with twoother streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates ateither the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz frequency band. GSM is the de factowireless telephone standard in Europe. GSM has over 120 million usersworldwide and is available in 120 countries, according to the GSM MoUAssociation. Since many GSM network operators have roaming agreementswith foreign operators, users can often continue to use their mobilephones when they travel to other countries. American PersonalCommunications (APC), a subsidiary of Sprint, is using GSM as thetechnology for a broadband personal communications service (PCS). Theservice will ultimately have more than 400 base stations for thepalm-sized handsets and is part of an evolution of wireless mobiletelecommunication that includes High-Speed Circuit-Switched Data(HSCSD), General Packet Radio System (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSMEnvironment (EDGE), and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service(UMTS).

TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access)

TDMA (time division multiple access) is a technology used in digitalcellular telephone communication to divide each cellular channel intothree time slots in order to increase the amount of data that can becarried. TDMA is used by Digital-American Mobile Phone Service (D-AMPS),Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), and PersonalDigitalCellular (PDC). However, each of these systems implements TDMA ina somewhat different and incompatible way. An alternative multiplexingscheme to FDMA with TDMA is code division multiple access (CDMA), whichtakes the entire allocated frequency range for a given service andmultiplexes information for all users across the spectrum range at thesame time.

PCS (Personal Communlcabxons Services)

PCS (personal communications services) is a wireless phone servicesomewhat similar to cellular telephone service but emphasizing personalservice and extended mobility. It's sometimes referred to as digitalcellular (although cellular systems can also be digital). Like cellular,PCS is for mobile users and requires a number of antennas to blanket anarea of coverage. As a user moves around, the user's phone signal ispicked up by the nearest antenna and then forwarded to a base stationthat connects to the wired network. The phone itself is slightly smallerthan a cellular phone. PCS is being introduced first in highly urbanareas for large numbers of users.

The “personal” in PCS distinguishes this service from cellular byemphasizing that, unlike cellular, which was designed for car phone usewith transmitters emphasizing coverage of highways and roads, PCS isdesigned for greater user mobility. It generally requires more celltransmitters for coverage, but has the advantage of fewer blind spots.Technically, cellular systems in the United States operate in the824-849 megahertz (MHz) frequency bands; PCS operates in the 1850-1990MHz bands. Several technologies are used for PCS in the United States,including Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) and Global System forMobile (GSM) communication. GSM is more commonly used in Europe andelsewhere.

UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) UMTS (Universal MobileTelecommunications System) is a so-called “third-generation (3G),”broadband, packet-based transmission of text, digitized voice, video,and multimedia at data rates up to and possibly higher than 2 megabitsper second (Mbps), offering a consistent set of services to mobilecomputer and phone users no matter where they are located in the world.

Based on the Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication standard,UMTS, endorsed by major standards bodies and manufacturers, is theplanned standard for mobile users around the world by 2002. Once UMTS isfully implemented, computer and phone users can be constantly attachedto the Internet as they travel and, as they roam, have the same set ofcapabilities no matter where they travel to. Users will have accessthrough a combination of terrestrial wireless and satellitetransmissions. Until UMTS is fully implemented, users can havemulti-mode devices that switch to the currently available technology(such as GSM 900 and 1800) where UMTS is not yet available.

Present cellular systems are mainly circuit-switched, with connectionsalways dependent on circuit availability. Packet-switched connection,using the Internet Protocol (IP), means that a virtual connection mayalways be available to any other end point in the network. It will alsomake it possible to provide new services, such as alternative billingmethods (pay-per-bit, pay-per-session, flat rate, asymmetric bandwidth,and others). The higher bandwidth of UMTS also promises new services,such as video conferencing. UMTS promises to realize the Virtual HomeEnvironment (VHE) in which a roaming user can have the same services towhich the user is accustomed when at home or in the office, through acombination of transparent terrestrial and satellite connections. Thespectrum for UMTS has been identified as frequency bands 1885-2025 MHzfor future IMT-2000 systems, and 1980-2010 MHz and 2170-2200 MHz for thesatellite portion of UMTS systems.

Although the disclosed embodiments have been described in detail, itshould be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterationscan be made to the embodiments without departing from their spirit andscope. For example, the present invention may be realized in associationwith several different types of wireless communication devices which mayinclude, but are not limited to, personal digital assistants (PDAs),cellular communication devices, cellular telephones, wireless pagingdevices, wireless computing systems, or other systems and/or wirelessdevices.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for communicating information associatedwith digital images including the steps of: providing a firstnon-transitory medium having a network location; providing a secondnon-transitory medium, the second non-transitory medium including awireless digital image capturing device; providing a software routineresident on the first non-transitory medium for wirelessly relayinginstructions between the first and the second non-transitory mediums;detecting a user initiated request communicated wirelessly from thewireless digital image capturing device to wirelessly transmit a digitalimage from the secondary non-transitory medium to the firstnon-transitory medium; authenticating the user initiated request with alogin identification associated with the user and the network locationuniquely generated for the user; prompting the user to provideidentifier information for the digital image wirelessly from thewireless digital image capturing device and encoding the networkdestination information provided by the user within a portion of thedigital image, the network destination information operable to uniquelyidentify a process for processing the digital image; wherein the processfor processing the digital image comprises at least one process selectedfrom the group consisting of compressing the digital image, filteringthe digital image, generating a thumbnail of the digital image, flaggingthe digital image for subsequent thumbnail generation, resizing thedigital image, converting the digital image to a different digitalformat, updating a database with the image, converting the digital imageto a traditional print, dynamically generating a web site containing thedigital image, dynamically generating a web page containing the digitalimage and combinations thereof; and updating the network locationwirelessly with the digital image and associated identifier information.2. The method of claim 1, further including a step of generating aproject by processing the digital image and a series of related digitalimages based on processing information including at least dateinformation of the digital image and related digital images.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, further including a step of processing the digitalimage including at least one of resizing and compressing the digitalimage.
 4. The method of claim 3, further including the step of creatingone or more directories for storing the processed digital images locallyin a memory device associated with the first non-transitory medium. 5.The method of claim 4, further including wirelessly communicating imagesstored on the memory device to additional select network locations via amark image command from the wireless digital image capturing device. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the mark image command includes a furtherstep of prompting the user to select which network location is generatedand presented via a soft key on the wireless image capturing device. 7.The method of claim 6, wherein the step of updating the network locationincludes updating a webpage.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the stepof processing the digital image further includes processing a pluralityof digital images and includes a step of storing the digital images in amemory device associated with the first non-transitory medium andproviding access to the wireless image capturing device to select whichdigital images should be processed.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinthe step of processing includes filtering the digital image andgenerating a thumbnail of the filtered digital image.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, including a step of providing a memo associated with thedigital image from the wireless digital image capturing device.
 11. Themethod of claim 1, including a step of associating the loginidentification with the wireless digital image capturing device.
 12. Amethod for communicating information associated with digital imagesincluding the steps of: providing a first non-transitory medium having afirst network location; providing a second non-transitory medium, thesecond non-transitory medium including a wireless digital imagecapturing device; providing a software routine resident on the firstnon-transitory medium for wirelessly relaying instructions between thefirst and the second non-transitory mediums; detecting a user initiatedrequest communicated wirelessly from the wireless digital imagecapturing device to transmit a digital image wirelessly from the secondnon-transitory medium to the first non-transitory medium; authenticatingthe user initiated request with a login identification associated withboth the wireless digital image capturing device and the first networklocation, encoding image process information and network destinationinformation provided by the user in at least one of a title of thedigital image or within a portion of the digital image, the imageprocess information operable to uniquely identify a process forprocessing the digital image; wherein the process information forprocessing the digital image comprises at least one process selectedfrom the group consisting of compressing the digital image, filteringthe digital image, generating a thumbnail of the digital image, flaggingthe digital image for subsequent thumbnail generation, resizing thedigital image, converting the digital image to a different digitalformat, updating a database with the image, converting the digital imageto a traditional print, dynamically generating a web site containing thedigital image, dynamically generating a web page containing the digitalimage and combinations thereof; receiving a digital image wirelesslyfrom the wireless image capturing device and storing it in a memorydevice associated with the first non-transitory medium, designating anassociated process to employ on the digital image based on the imageprocess information encoded in the at least one of the title or aportion of the digital image; and updating the first network locationwith the digital image.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the processincludes the further step of generating a project with at least oneadditional digital image having the same encoded process information.14. The method of claim 13, including a further step wherein the digitalimage and the at least one additional digital image are generated intothumbnails.
 15. The method of claim 13, including the further step ofproviding a memo associated with the digital image from the wirelessdigital image capturing device.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein thestep of updating the first network location includes the step ofupdating a webpage uniquely generated for the user.
 17. The method ofclaim 16, including the further step of prompting the user to mark thedigital image from the wireless image capturing device to be wirelesslycommunicated to additional network locations.
 18. The method of claim17, including the step of prompting the user to select from the wirelessimage capturing device which network locations of the additional networklocations to share the digital image with.
 19. The method of claim 17,including the further step wherein the step of prompting the user toselect which network location is generated and presented via a soft keyon the wireless image capturing device.